You don’t need “antibacterial” soap to keep your family clean and germ-free. Regular soap and water is just as effective and probably safer, the federal government has ruled.
Late last week the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it is ordering manufacturers to remove 19 ingredients found in antiseptic hand and body washes. The most common is triclosan, found in almost all liquid products labeled “antibacterial” or “antimicrobial.”
The FDA said there is no proof these ingredients work better than soap and water. There’s also a chance they are harmful. Some studies show triclosan and another ingredient called triclocarban may disrupt hormone cycles in animals and lead to the creation of germs that are antibiotic resistant.
Manufacturers have a year to get rid of the newly banned ingredients. Some are already replacing them with a new collection of chemicals, including benzalkonium chloride and chloroxylenol. The FDA is giving companies an extra year to prove the replacement chemicals are safe and effective.
Triclosan, triclocarban and the other targeted ingredients won’t be banished from all antibacterial products, though. The new rule leaves out hand sanitizers and wipes, toothpaste, and antibacterial soap used in hospitals and food settings.
As far as hand sanitizer, if you need to use it because there’s no soap and water available the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends making sure it’s alcohol-based and contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
Will the new FDA ruling affect your family’s soap-buying habits?
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